Course pics

Video preview of the Castlewood Cup course!

Course Narrative

The Start: The Castlewood Cup begins in the field by Picnic Pavilion 1. You will begin in a wave start up near the road and run towards the railroad tunnel. The course turns before the tunnel and you will follow a loop around the field perimeter. Passing the picnic pavilion, you will cross Kiefer Creek Road and head UP the very steep hill of Lone Wolf Trail. At approximately the 1-mile mark, the trail levels out a bit but you are still climbing.

Veer Right at the Castle to follow the rolling descent down the backside of the Lone Wolf Trail. As you approach the creek, follow the path to the right to avoid the creek (for now!). Follow the trail with the creek on your left hand side. Here you will cross some small wooden foot bridges. At about 2.5 miles you come out of the woods and pop up to the Grotpeter Trail on the left.

From here you will connect with the Gropeter Trail (which runs along the opposite side of the tree). Along Gropeter, nearing mile 2.75, you will cross Keifer Creek Road again and prepare for another long climb. Take the trail to the right and prepare for some uphill switchbacks. Follow the trail along and down another descent (where you will cross another small wooden footbridge). This is about 3.5 miles into the race.

Another climb up and you are faced with crossing Ries Road. Take the trail to the right and enjoy a little downhill! You will reach the bottom of the hill around mile 4.25, cross another footbridge and continue on fairly flat ground until you reach the aid station.

Pass the aid station at mile 5 and turn left for another climb! This hill is a great one! When you’ve reached the top, the big hills are mostly over! Follow the trail straight ahead at the cross junction. The trail begins to twist and turn around miles 6 and 7. You will follow the Gropeter down the hill until you reach the small wooden footbridge at the end of the woods. From here, you will cross the road and run along the field behind Ranger’s Station and cross a small creek before you get to the big creek crossing after the 8 mile mark.

Cross The Creek and follow the Lone Wolf Trail back to the left. You will follow the trail and come out of the woods again nearing the end. There is just one final crossing of the road and follow the perimeter field trail. Run through the finish and Hooray – you have completed The Castlewood Cup!

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Big River Race Management was founded in 2007 a year after its sister company Big River Running Company entered the St. Louis running market. BRRM is now proud to call themselves St. Louis' leader in race timing and event management and the Midwest's premier race timing and event management company.

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The Big River Trail Series is a competition in which points are tallied for runners that participate in 3 of the 4 following events: Flint Ridge Trail 10 Mile, Skippo 10k, Skippo 20k or 30k, and the Castlewood Cup 15k.